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Quicker trip to town
- Details
- 09 May 2012
With the new express service, the trip from Soweto to the inner city has got even faster. Four new bus stations have also been opened.
THE introduction of an express service and the opening of four new stations by Rea Vaya are expected to affect how people get around the city.
Stations opened on Wednesday, 2 May are: Basothong Station at Selby South, serving T1 and C1; Rissik Street Station, serving T1 via Civic Centre and C3; Harrison Street Station, serving T1 via Civic Centre and C3; and, Park Station, serving T1 via Civic Centre and C3.
Commuters using T1, the first Rea Vaya trunk route, starting at Thokoza Park in Soweto, or C1, the first complementary route, starting at Ndingilizi in Dobsonville, can now catch an express service that will not stop at any stations until the bus reaches the CBD.
In the late afternoons and evenings, the T1 express will stop at the stations at Joburg Art Gallery, Fashion Square, Carlton Centre and then Thokoza Park.The C1 express will stop at Ellis Park, Carlton Centre and then Ndingilizi.
Speaking at the opening, at the new Park Station terminal,the member of the mayoral committee for transportation, Rehana Moosajee, said that investment in public transport was a key aspect in enhancing the quality of life of residents and improving the economy of the city.
“Our quest is to improve the transit experience for residents of Johannesburg,” she explained. “It is important for citizens to have an element of choice and connectivity.”
The introduction of the express services to and from Thokoza Park and opening of stations along Rissik and Harrison streets would enable easy integration with Metrorail and Gautrain. “This will assist Metrorail and Gautrain passengers to transfer to destinations in the innercity.”
Moosajee took the opportunity to appeal to people to leave their cars at home and make use of public transport.
Several ward councillors were at the opening, joined by officials from Johannesburg Development Agency, Johannesburg metropolitan police department and Ekhurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, who packed Park Station.
Ruby Mathang, Joburg’s portfolio head of development planning and urban management, said he looked forward to the changes that Rea Vaya would bring to the city. “The system being launched will allow commuters to move with even greater ease from Dobsonville and Thokoza Park to the CBD. Braamfontein will become even more accessible with the Rissik link in operation.”
He pointed out that the key aspect of the BRT was its ability to create links between the different modes of transport available to commuters. “The new routes will link with the Gautrain station at Park Station, while receiving important feeds from taxis and bus services.”
Thanduxolo Mendrew, the acting chief executive of the development agency, pointed out places of interest along the T1 extension. These included South Point’s Hotel Lamunu, work along De Korte Street, Wits Arts Museum, Origins Centre, Planetarium and Constitution Hill.
After the speeches, Moosajee and other officials hopped onto a bus to tour the inner city route, including the T1 extension. They stopped at Harrison Street Station and Rissik Street Station, where they officially opened the terminals.
The final stop was Basothong Station in Selby South. Here, they walked over the pedestrian bridge. Recently completed, it allows people to cross the busy road from the station to destinations in Selby South and Booysens.
Visibly pleased with the developments, Moosajee spoke to people crossing the bridge to find out what they thought. Most of them were happy with the bridge, saying they felt much safer.
New stations and routes in CBD
Dedicated Rea Vaya lanes in Rissik and Harrison streets, as well as routes along Park Station and next to Bank City are now complete.Certain buses starting at Thokoza Park and Dobsonville now go to Metro Centre and Braamfontein, passing Park Station.
The inner city C3 changes its route slightly, using De KorteStreet instead of Wolmarans Street going to Braamfontein.
Fares
Passengers travelling from Thokoza Park to Park Station or Rissik Street payR7.30, and those connecting via feeders pay R10.50in the morning during peak hours.Those travelling from Constitution Hill to Thokoza Park via Park and Harrison Street stations pay R7.30; it is R10.50 for passengers who still connect through feeders during peak hours.
In addition, to help car users, red stripes are being painted in the middle of almost all the bus lanes. This will alert car users not to enter the dedicated lanes and will be particularly helpful at intersections.
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